The gym at the Siskiyou Family YMCA was buzzing with activity Monday morning as more than 40 kids took part in a volleyball camp.

In its 11th year, the 4th-to-8th grade camp is designed to give participants an opportunity to learn and refine their volleyball expertises.

A total of 13 current and former members of the Yreka Miners volleyball program are assisting, with Miner volleyball players Justine Cota and Courtney Huston making the camp their senior project.

Yreka head varsity head coach Scott Eastman is also helping out, making sure things run smoothly.

The camp began on Monday and concludes on Thursday.

Eastman said the camp is a win-win for both the younger participants and the high school players who are helping out.

The older players "learn from doing," Eastman said, as they pass on their knowledge. Also, the older girls learn the importance of being a positive role model and "paying it foward and helping out in the community," Eastman said.

The younger kids learn about the sport from an early age and are more prepared by the time they reach high school. And, Eastman said, many of the kids who are taking part have gone to Miner volleyball games and "look up to the older girls."

The Miners volleyball program has been a well-respected one for a number of years. Last season, the Miners varsity team earned a co-share of the Northern Athletic League title and made it all the way to the Northern Section Division 4 finals.

Cota went to the camps when she was younger and said it's been a privilege to help out and have the camp be her senior project. She said the camps were "really helpful" when she attended as a participant.

Huston said that it has been a bit of an adjustment to be the one giving instructions as a group of kids listen intently to what she's saying. While she had some jitters at first, Huston said she was enjoying her opportunity to help out.

"It's good to give back," she said.

Kylie Cummings, 10, of Yreka said that although this was her first day she had already learned plenty.

"There's a lot of nice coaches and I like working with the older girls," Cummings said. "They know a lot about volleyball. It's fun."

Mary Kimball, 11, of Yreka has attended the camp before, and said she loves sports and wants to get better at volleyball. She already plans to try out for the Miner volleyball team in high school. Although she won't be going to high school for a while, she wants to get a head start and be prepared to contribute to the Miners, she said.

In the evenings, the high school girls are having a camp this week at Yreka High. the camp is open to participants from throughout the county.